Demand for "urgent" rethink of offshore wind plans [source: New Energy Focus]: The Carbon Trust has called for an urgent rethink of plans to develop the next wave of offshore wind farms in the UK, in the run-up to European renewable energy targets set for 2020. In particular, the government-funded organisation said yesterday that costs had to be radically reduced to make offshore wind farms attractive to investors. Key recommendations include allowing developers to build wind farms closer to shore, in shallower waters - a move that alone could shave £16 billion off the predicted £75 billion investment needed in the UK's "Round Three" offshore wind programme. continue reading Boskalis Plans Smit Bid [source: Traffic World Online]: Royal Boskalis Westminster of the Netherlands, the world's biggest dredging company, confirmed it plans to make a takeover offer for Rotterdam-based Smit Internationale, the world's leading marine-salvage operator, in early December. "In the coming weeks, Boskalis will further analyze and evaluate all aspects of the transaction?EUR?with a view to determining the final content and structure of the offer," Boskalis said in a statement, referring to developments in Smit's business markets and its share price. continue reading Somali pirates hijack RP-operated ship [source: Inquirer.net]: Somali pirates hijacked a Philippine-managed bulk carrier with 21 sailors aboard on Wednesday, a maritime watchdog said. Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur, told Agence France-Presse pirates boarded the vessel at 0344 GMT in the notorious Gulf of Aden. "The ship was sailing from the Middle East to Asia," he said. continue reading Ship breaks in two on Gibraltar rocks; crew rescued safely [source: Mercopress]: The 35.000 tonnes Liberian cargo ship, built in 1977 Fedra lies in two pieces adjacent to the Lighthouse at Europa Point, Gibraltar. Salvage experts from the US company Titan Maritime, in Gibraltar to deal with the bulk carrier the New Flame, which ran aground just metres away in August 2007 were assisting in the rescue operation with one of its vessels, which was first on the scene. All 31 of the crew were rescued safely, over half by a Spanish helicopter from the maritime service which attended. Flying in the extreme weather was very demanding and it was forced to make an emergency landing at Europa point after its engines overheated. It took off safely on Saturday afternoon after assistance from RAF Gibraltar. continue reading Technorati tags: Fedra salvage Gibraltar SMIT Boskalis towage piracy Somalia offshore wind farm